By Adonis Byemelwa
Zanzibar— Eighteen young footballers from Zanzibar are scheduled to leave for Brazil on October 5 to compete in the PQCUPBRASIL 2026 youth tournament, a trip organisers say will give the players international experience and expose them to different approaches to the game.
The Zanzibar Spice Boys, whose players are aged 12 and 13, are due to compete in the Under-13 category in Minas Gerais from October 10 to 15. The delegation is expected to return to Zanzibar on October 18, after a programme that includes specialist training following the tournament.
The team has been drawn in Group A alongside Clube Minas Gerais, Soccer Pro Betim, Polo Novo Horizonte Rio Vermelho and Vitinho Soccer Itabira. The fixtures will test the visitors against local youth sides, although the tournament’s wider competitive standing and the development records of the opponents require more independent documentation than has so far been made public.
For the young players, the trip offers a chance to experience football beyond the environment in which they have trained. Playing unfamiliar opponents can expose strengths and weaknesses that are harder to identify when teams compete only against familiar local sides.
Ambassador Abdulsamad Abdulrahim, who is expected to lead the delegation, has said the purpose extends beyond results on the pitch. He has described the trip as an opportunity to build confidence and discipline while developing sporting and cultural links. Those ambitions will be judged not only by match results, but also by what the players and coaches take home from the experience.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Information, Arts, Culture and Sports, Riziki Pembe Juma, has also presented the tour as an opportunity to develop young talent and promote Zanzibar internationally. At a send-off event on September 30, she handed each player Sh500,000 to support the journey, according to reporting by Mwanaspoti.
The financial support is a tangible contribution, but important questions remain about the overall cost of the trip and how it is being financed. The organisers named in reports include Ocean Business Partners and Dulla Sunday Talent Sports Development, working in coordination with the Zanzibar government. A detailed public breakdown of flights, accommodation, meals, tournament fees, training costs and other expenses has not been included in the reports reviewed for this article.
The same transparency matters for a delegation travelling with children. Parents and guardians need clear information about supervision, accommodation, travel permissions, medical support, insurance and safeguarding arrangements. These are routine responsibilities for international youth sport, not obstacles to it; they help ensure that the opportunity is safe as well as worthwhile.
The selection process is another part of the story that deserves fuller explanation. Public reports identify the squad’s size and age group, but provide limited detail about trials, eligibility, the players’ clubs, their recent performances or the criteria used to select them. Making that information available would help families and aspiring players understand how future opportunities might be accessed.
The value of the tour will also depend on what happens after the team returns. International exposure can be motivating, but it does not automatically create a pathway to professional football. Follow-up coaching, regular competition, facilities, education and support for local coaches are among the factors that determine whether a short overseas trip contributes to sustained development.
Organisers have also framed the journey as a cultural exchange and a chance to promote Zanzibar’s tourism and identity. That ambition could become more concrete through confirmed visits, cultural activities or meetings with Brazilian clubs and institutions. Details of such activities should be shared as the itinerary is finalised, rather than left as a general promise.
The trip comes as Zanzibar’s football stakeholders discuss broader ways to connect grassroots talent with established clubs and international partners. A separate report by Business Insider Tanzania described discussions involving Yanga Soccer School, Dulla Sunday Sports Academy and Brazil-based partner PQ Cruzeiro, with the stated aim of developing a longer-term pathway for young players. Whether those discussions lead to a sustained programme remains to be seen.
For now, the Spice Boys’ immediate task is to prepare for the tournament and make the most of the opportunity. Their progress should be measured not only in wins and losses, but in technical learning, teamwork, confidence and the quality of support they receive throughout the journey.
A successful trip would be one that leaves the players better equipped when they return to Zanzibar—and produces a clear plan for what comes next. The tournament provides a date on the calendar; lasting development will depend on the work that follows it.
